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nChapter 138

nProofreader: somnium

nHayley did not readily answer.

nThe doctor made it clear that it was overwork and low blood pressure. But that doesn’t mean that Hayley’s suspicions are gone.

nArtizea must have known her own physical condition. Hayley wasn’t yet a trusted aide who knew about Artizea’s health.

nBut Hayley believed Artizea was aware of her own condition apart from the fact that her body was not important to herself.

nThere is no possibility that she would have necessarily used poison or something detrimental. The doctor only made a diagnosis for a moment. There could be other ways that the doctor didn’t notice.

nHad it not been for her position, Hayley would have told Cedric everything without hesitation.

nAs Artizea’s husband, he should have known what Artizea thought and decided.

nBut there is a child.

nIf Artizea knew she was pregnant and she still decided to do so, that would be a big deal for Evron Grand Duchy. Because it was a threat to the successor.

nHayley didn’t think Cedric would publicize it and make it an issue.

nBut Hayley shouldn’t be the one to talk about it with her mouth. Otherwise, it would be a testimony that Artizea threatened the heir of the Grand Duchy. Cedric then said.

n“Do I not know her?”

n“…….”

n“Whether it was trying to bring a cause by taking her own body as hostage, or simply overdoing it, she would have prepared just in case.”

nHayley didn’t answer. But Cedric spoke as if he had heard the answer.

n“She did.”

n“Does that mean that Her Grace wanted a price to be paid for endangering the baby in the womb?”

nWhen Cedric said it was a price, it wasn’t that he wanted revenge.

nCedric’s attitude conveyed the feeling that he would prioritize Artizea’s plans over other things.

nIt was neither Cedric’s nor Evron’s.

nIn the end, Artizea was trying to do her thing. In the end she and her fetus’ health was to be rewarded with the interests in order to obtain a cause in exchange for their ordeal.

nCedric stared at Hayley, then he said.

n“You are Tia’s lady-in-waiting, so it means do what Tia tells you to do. She even threw her body away, and you shouldn’t do anything because of me.”

n“Your Grace…….”

n“I will do as I wanted too.”

nCedric said so and strode out of the living room.

nHayley relaxed and sank down. Somehow she felt a little relieved.

nShe has always thought Cedric was frustrating, but if he had really used this as an opportunity instead of getting revenge, Hayley would have been disappointed.

n***

nAt twilight, the Knights of Evron moved for the second time that day.

nCedric entrusted Alphonse with a total of 100 members, adding 30 of the knights who escorted him to the 70 who were originally protecting the Grand Duke’s residence. There were several other soldiers attached to it.

nIt cannot be said that the number is overwhelmingly large.

nHowever, the fact that there is an army in the capital not under the Emperor’s orders is dangerous in itself.

nEven though they usually knew the existence of the Knights of Evron, the citizens of the capital never felt threatened.

nThis is because the Knights of Evron were strict in their discipline, and usually only armed with a single sword.

nEven on days when Artizea was escorted to the temple in groups, the soldiers were never called up to take a large-scale military action.

nIn other words, it has been customary since ancient times for the Knights of Evron in the capital to escort the Grand Duke and his wife.

nIt’s more of a protocol to show what kind of family Evron Grand Duchy is.

nBut that night was different.

nThe knights were fully armed, and the soldiers followed with rifles. It was large enough to say that they formed an army rather than an escort.

nAs the troops passed through the gates, the Emperor’s central army tensed. It was time to end the day, but the capital woke up in an instant.

nThe military garrison base was lit up with torches, and watchers scattered around the walls. The messenger ran in all directions.

nThe Knights of Evron did not care at all about the gazes toward them.

nAlphonse took full authority from Cedric and placed the knights in the forest near the temple.

nThere were not enough numbers to encircle the entire temple.

nHowever, Cedric had been stationed in the vicinity for several months with the Western Army. The geography was as clear as looking at the palm of his hand for him.

nThe elements were blocked so that no ordinary person could come and go except through the Knights of Evron.

nNaturally, the temple strongly objected.

n“I have no intention of persecuting the temple.”

nAlphonse said with a calm face to the priests who had come to protest.

n“We are just staying here.”

n“Who would believe that!”

n“We did not block the road. Please pass.”

nAlphonse said so to the priest.

nOnly Bishop Akim and his men were commanded to stop. This was to prevent them from escaping.

nIt is also a threat to the temple. Knowing that, the temple did not protest any further.

nAn errand boy sent by the Archbishop advised the priests to pass by quietly if they had to go out, otherwise return to the temple.

nEven if it was close to the temple, not all of the forest belonged to the temple anyway.

nThey didn’t have to force their way out of the temple. Now was the time to bow down.

n***

nThe news came to the Emperor at the time when the torches were lit up on the walls.

nThen, the Emperor was lying half asleep in his armchair.

nHe was in a very uncomfortable state. He was tired, but sleep did not come.

nA skillful cello player was playing a slow tune late into the night to clear the stillness.

nAn old masseuse was rubbing his legs, but it never felt better.

nThe Imperial Palace was also quiet these days.

nIt had been several months where there were no banquets or even small gatherings. It was because of the disappearance of the small gatherings held by the Emperor’s favorite servants and Miraila’s friends.

nAt one time, the Countess Eunice would hold a tea party with the Emperor’s permission, but that disappeared.

nThe salon was also closed, and there were no officials or dignitaries who held any discussion in the private rooms of the Imperial Palace.

nThe messenger was lying flat on the floor in fear. The Emperor narrowed his eyes and looked at the messenger. And he closed his eyes tiredly.

n“What about Gayan? Is he here?”

n“All the guard knights and central army officers are waiting in the audience waiting room.”

nThe servant who brought the messenger said politely.

n“I have to go out.”

nThe Emperor muttered, but did not intend to move. He did not ask the messenger again about the current situation.

nThe servant went out without a sound. The messenger also rolled his eyes and, seeing the servant beckoning, quickly backed away.

nThe Emperor asked with his eyes closed.

n“What do you think?”

n“What would a lowly person dare to have in mind?”

nThe masseuse answered and massaged the Emperor’s knees and calves. The Emperor murmured.

n“I envy you.”

n“…….”

n“You have entered the Imperial Palace with your skills, and you live your life simply by using your skills.”

n“Thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”

n“Whoever you are, whichever family you are from, whomever you flatter, whichever people you line up with, the skill is yours, isn’t it? Wherever you are, you must have lived a good life with your skills.”

n“If Your Majesty hadn’t favored me, how could a lowly person like me live with the same wealth as now?”

n“People have to live like you. With their own skill, with their own abilities.”

nThe Emperor spoke to himself as if he couldn’t hear the masseuse’s answer.

nThe masseus’s words were nothing more than a formal answer anyway.

n“I have a lot to think about. Sometimes I want to quit, but I just can’t.”

n“Because you have a good reputation .”

n“If I had had a proper child, how could something like this have happened? I am the one who got the karma.”

nIt was when the Emperor mumbled like that.

nThe chief attendant came in.

n“Did you even urge Gayan to hurry up and get to the Imperial Palace as soon as possible?”

nHe didn’t know if the Emperor was joking or being serious. The chief attendant bowed his head deeply and apologized.

n“Your Majesty, Grand Duke Evron, has asked for an audience.”

nEven then, the Emperor, who had been buried in the chair without even thinking of standing up, opened his eyes.

n“Cedric?”

n“Yes.”

nThe chief attendant could not hide his flusteration.

n“It is said that he came into the capital this afternoon. It seems that the movements of the Knights of Evron are in accordance with the orders of the Grand Duke.”

n“I’m sure. Those hard-headed bastards could not have acted voluntarily and strategically up to here.”

nThe Emperor replied sarcastically.

nAlthough the chief attendant did not know, the Emperor already knew that Evron Grand Duchy’s ship had entered the port, and that Cedric had come to the capital.

nAs for the dispute that took place in the temple today, he also knew that Artizea had returned in the Archbishop’s chariot.

nNot only the Emperor, but everyone who had a thorough information network would have known.

n“Interesting.”

nThis is both late and early.

nIf it were Cedric he knew, he would have come to him first, surrendering himself to his anger and sense of justice. Otherwise, once he had done everything, he would have presented himself to the Emperor and asserted the dignity of his actions.

nBut today it was not. Cedric moved at the same time. He moved the knights and had an audience with him, so there were probably one or two other actions.

n‘I heard that Tia collapsed. Is she conscious?’

nIf so, it may be that Artizea, not Cedric, is causing these actions.

nWhile the Emperor was thinking, the masseuse stopped the kneading hand.

nThe masseuse wiped the Emperor’s legs with a hot towel. Then pulled down the Emperor’s rolled up pants and put on his slippers.

n“Would you like to change clothes?”

nThe chief attendant asked. The Emperor shook his head.

n“It is late.”

nAs he was thinking about seeing Cedric, the door opened.

nThe guards did not know what to do. But that didn’t stop Cedric from pushing in.

nCedric was alone. He was disarmed. If it hadn’t been for that, he wouldn’t have been able to get into this inner place no matter what.

nThe Emperor clicked his finger. Then the guards opened the way.

nCedric strode into the Emperor’s bedroom and knelt down on one of his knees.

n“Pardon my rudeness for being here in the middle of the night.”

n“It’s okay. This old man never sleeps. What are you doing here? I hadn’t even heard of your departure from the north. Did you leave the border exposed and come all the way here because your heart was filled with your wife?”

n“Yes. I have come to ask you something. Your Majesty the Emperor. No, my uncle!”

nCedric corrected it.

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